John Brooks
John Brooks studied technical drawing and graphic art at Bath University,
UK, and has been working as a photographer and graphic artist since 1964.
These images were recently sent over to us with the following statement…
“My work as an artist photographer features the world around us viewed in an alternative way, one that seeks out the extraordinary that lies within the ordinary. Parts of the environment by which we are surrounded are often overlooked despite being plainly within our view. I have for many years been inspired by the commonplace object or landscape and the hidden aspects of that subject matter. Without selecting a microcosm of the subject it is still possible to present the viewer with a radically different perspective of the ordinary by drawing their attention to the potential of the subject by virtue of its shape, colour, texture, shadows, juxtaposition or transient condition rendered by human interference.”
“I started using medium and large format cameras when I was in my early twenties working in colour. The 6cm x 6cm and 6cm x 4.5cm roll film formats which I still use require careful consideration of the geometry of the composition. In addition to digital I still use 5 x 4 plate cameras which allow a greater control over the perspective of subjects.
A camera Is not needed to compose a study of the subject and I will often consider my compositions over a period of weeks or months before committing them to film or memory card. This enables me to evaluate the differing effects of light which must be used to create the final image as the time of day or year will make a big difference to the resulting image.”
”My current work returns more to my earlier subject matter of rural landscape but with a focus on the effects of man on his environment. Industrial subjects are considered in the context of both urban and rural environments combining the beauty and contrast of these two seemingly opposing elements with some breath-taking results.”
To See more from John go to Johnbrooksphotography.co.uk